The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7923, 12 September 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

. v . CONSPIRATORS, " * i » i And if this sending for my into the country is a filly plot to wed me to some bumpkin for policy's sake forsooth ! I tell you, dear grandfather, I'll have none, of it. I am the toast tof the town, and I'll marry >to please: myself and no other.. And now, having written at some length, I will close this letter, assuring you, dear grandfather, that 1 am ever your loving ami obedient granddaughter,—Elizabeth Featherley." Tbc general threw his loving and obedient granddaughter's letter on the tabic and swore roundly. But young Anthony Keatherley only, drained bis cup and laughed. "There speaks," said he, "a lady, Jof some wilfulness, as 'twould seem." "There speaks," ■ fumed the Uencr-i a!, "a little spoilt baggage who needs soundly whipping, ami, as illluck will have it, is too old now to nave the Operation performed—at least till she marries."

He took a pinch of snuff and winked across the labk- at his kinsman.

'"Tis one ol tiic privileges of a husband to beat his wife, is t not, dear lad ?"•

■"But the lady says she'll have none of we !''

"!' faith, yes. It seems, Anthony, that this project of ours lias been truitcd in London. And Madame Betty is a woman am), moreover. has more whims an.l tcmpcis than most. Twouid have been the wisest plan lo set her against you, and—dammy ! I think 'twould h*ve made her love the notion of marrying you !"

Two centuries back a Keatherley for domestic reasons,.doubtless, had leit all his unentailed properly—which was the greater part—to his son. Since (hat time eaeh succeeding baronet had Vcu something poorer than Ihe last. So it was the younger branch who lived in state at Keatherley Court. Ab it chanced however, (ieneral Feaiherley, had a monstrous liking (or his kinsman, young Anthony ; hence this plot to give his enly'granddaughter and also his fortune to the present head of the family. Sir Anthony sat forward in his chair, his elbows on the table and his chin in his hands. Suddenly ttt sprang up with one of the oaths that were seldom oft" the Hps of a man of fashion.

"I have it, sir !" lie shouted. "Set her against me! Banish me the house '. Tell her there's a deadly leud bctweeu my branch of the family an 3 yours-aye, and forbid her on the pain of all she dreads to lave speech or dealing with me !" The General choked over the wine be was drinking and uttered an inarticulate exclamation. Then he got

lo his !eet and bowed low to his Jj kiniimam waking, despite the e° ut J and sixty years oi age, as elegant & f leg as any buck of the day^ "1' iaith ! a monstrous good notion, Anthony !" cried he. "My compliments ! The Fcatherley Icwl!, Ha ! Ha '.—here's to it '.'•'■ And he filled his glass and drained it in a toast lo the feud ; The lady bad arrived. She sat in a high-backed chair in the gold with-j drawing-room at Fealttcilcy Court > and fanned herself with, that turn of the wrist which had wrought no, little havoc among the hearts of London.. The General tapped his snuff-box and stared at her, as, indeed, any man worthy of the name wouki have done with a like opportunity. For sftc, was beautiiiul—would* have been.beautiful even without the powder in her hair ami the rose-col-our that had ibeen deftly placed on Up and cheek and the velvet patches marking the dimple in her chin and - the dark lire oi ktr eje*. "They rnockvd me in London," she

said frowning. "They said you sent for me to wed me to Sir Anthony Feathcrley. Is it true, sir ?" "True'."- roared the General as it seemed with great wrath. "Is't true! Belike you'll ask mc next il it's true I'm going to,wed you to. the archfiend himself. Ist true? By' Heaven ! No, madam -you'll not marry Anthony Featlierley with any consent of uiiuc : And, by your leave we'll not spoil the ' flavour oi our' talk again with any mention oi so unpleasant a subject as this young man !'-' The girl's red lips fell alarb in amaze. ••Bui " she began and paused. "Have you never heard of the therley icud, miss ? Don't you know that a Featherley of Feathcrley would sooner give one oi his women >, to a beggar or a foot-pad then let her marry the head of the house,,' forsooth '!" And he took a pinch of snuff and sneezed violently. ; "I have never heard oi the fend," murmured Betty. "And Aunt Elizabeth mentioned it to mc. Lud ! sir, 'tis very wicked to keep up an old quarrel so spitefully, but—'tis niiglitv interesting !'•'■ 'Ami slit sighed,. Her grandsire grinlied at the lire. A moment later she asked carelessly :—"What is he like, sir—this Anthony ?'' / I The general's eyes roved round the' loom till they rested on the portrait oi a cavalier in satin surcoat and Flanders late.

"As like Sir James Fe-allierlvy, yonder as one pea is like another," quoth'he, with ardour; ami, indeed, lit- stood in some danger of overacting liU part. "Damn liim ! tocjt as i.ietly a spark as ever ran a lival through the iungs or wore, a lady's glove next his heart !"- The black eyes darkened. 'Does lie, (hen, Wear a lady's glove next his heart •;'' "Scores of tliem, madam !" Which was not wisely said. For. though a woman will hate and dread one rival, she may yet be not a whit afraid of a score. So madam only pouted her lip haugntily. "He s pool," she said. "Likely enough hr'li be wauling to many me for my fortune, if not for nijr face—hut I'll have none of him." "Madam, he would not touch you with a pair of tongs." "And I," (lashed Betty, "would I not look at hjm through—though a j quizzing-glass !" I And she gathered her skirts across iher arm, and, with her haughty, [pretty head held high, swept from | the room. It was Sunday, and Miss Fcatheijley sat before her tiring-glass and ; yawned and frowned by turns. "Never," she said, half to hcrsell. and half to her woman, "have I pent so dull, so insufferable a Wirt. A week-!—l' faith ! it seems Hire a year since I came here !" In truth it was only six days

Buf it had rained all (lie iitnc witti me passionless, slow rain of Enclistf springtide, Betty had seen no one I save her grjmJlfMlicr, and Ms Jcom-» pany had not sufficed her ladyship. For what avails it to have the fairest face and the trimmest shape in or out of town wltcn there is no one to ogle and admire those same excellencies of person. "To-day,'- she said, ''we are at least going to church, and the sun is shining at last ! And I'll Wear the new pink taffetas gown and—yes you may put a touch of colour on my Likely enough that young good-for-nothing, my cousin Fcathcrley will be at church, and la ! what is the good of deepening the feud by giving him an ugly miss to stare ! at during the Psalms ?-'

But alas ! for the modish'' 'taffeta gown and the fairest face in London or out of it. Sir Anthony was indeed at church and sitting alone and lonely in the Square Featherley pew, that, together with his title and the family vault, had been wcll-nigb his sole inheritance But he did not stare at his cousin—did not so much as seem to in aware of his presence. Betty, if she so pleased, could admire his profile cut sharply though the gloom when she stood up dur-

ing the Psalms—but that wan all. And mark you ! to a lady used to being ogled by every buck at Vauxhall or Ranelagh, the indifference ot a callow country baronet seems an amazing and shocking thing.. And as Miss Keathcrley and her grandsirc walked back through the grassy lanes to tbc Court after church—for it was no 'distance—Anthony passed them riding at a bandgallop, a fine dashing figure in his modish riding gear. He swept oil his hat-, as it seemed with haughty enmity, to his kinsman, but lie did not glance at the lady 4 "He is handsomer than Sir 'Jamcg Feathevley,'- said Betty, with anger, ill-conocjaled., '"But, lud ! sir, is |he> a stick or a stonoj Or have those country bumpkins no eyes for any woman who is not a gypsy or a milkmaid !" The morning's early, sunshine lit on a strange sight—to wit, Miss Betty Kcatherlcy flying light and swifr as a .swallow's wing along the river bank, h«r silken skirts kilted, and her eyes wide with fear, Behiud her,' leisurely bounding, came two great hounds baying deep-mouthed enjoyment of the frolic ; and behind tbcm a man's voice, young and imperious, calling them back, i(To «)c Continued),